Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 24 2013

Philadelphia Orchestra – Gil Shaham

Kimmel_center_interiorI can’t remember the last time I saw a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Maybe in high school, when our band/orchestra director would run after-school trips to concerts at the Academy of Music several times a year.

I had the pleasure of attending a varied concert with new conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and soloist Gil Shaham at the Kimmel Center. I had heard Gil Shaham perform Barber and Korngold on disc and so was very interested in his performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto. It didn’t disappoint.

Other pieces on the program, a Wolfgang Sawallisch Memorial Concert, in addition to the Brahms:

I am looking forward to visiting the Philadelphia Orchestra again next season, depending on the repertoire and soloists.

May 17 2013

Next to Normal

This production was by Civic Theatre of Allentown. Community theatre can be hit or miss. Some good performances, particularly from Kallie Linder, Will Morris and Michael Traupman. While their performances hit the mark, the sound was another story. With the orchestra off stage, more care needed to be taken with the mix in the house.

It was an enjoyable evening, overall, revisiting one of my favorite scores.

May 3 2013

Claremont Trio

Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 9.51.09 AMI was lucky enough to hear the Claremont Trio about a year ago, also on the Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem‘s stage.  At that time they were a last-minute replacement for another performing group that couldn’t fill the performance slot. This is a powerhouse group, and they did not disappoint this time around. Violinist Emily Bruskin was not performing due to the fact she had given birth to a child only weeks earlier. Her replacement, Susie Park, was not a disappointment.

The program was varied and included sensitive performances of traditional and new repertoire.

  • Mozart’s Trio in E Major, K. 542
  • Folk Songs for Piano Trio – a work commissioned by the Claremont from Gabriela Lena Frank
  • Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 2 in c minor, Op. 66